Roane served as Governor of Arkansas from 1849 to
1852 and advocated internal improvements and increased funding for
education.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Roane joined the Confederate Army and on March 20, 1862, and
received an appointment as Brigadier General.
After most troops were moved from Arkansas across the Mississippi
River, Roane was placed in charge of the defense of Arkansas.
At this time the state was nearly defenseless, and Roane, with the
newly appointed commander of the Trans-Mississippi District General Thomas C.
Hindman, cobbled together a reasonable defensive force. General
Roane and his brigade took part in numerous battles in the
Trans-Mississippi District, including the Battle of Prairie Grove in
northwest Arkansas.